Category Archives: photoblogs

After a nice meal and a few tears, my family sent me off to the security checkpoint. My heart is pounding out of my chest. The day has finally come; I will soon be boarding my plane to Australia.

Hello everyone, I’m Lydia and I will be studying and interning through CAPA, The Global Education Network, in Sydney. I am filled with excitement and prepared for the unknown. Yes, living in a foreign country for five months may seem daunting. However, in order to grow as an individual, one must be pushed out of their comfort zone. The next post you read will be posted from the “Land Down Under.” See you soon America, you will be missed!

Whether it’s hot, cold, windy, or even sometimes cloudy, the Oswego sunset is always a fascinating sight to see. As a SUNY Oswego student for a little over a year, I have witnessed hundreds of sunsets so far. Being a meteorology major, sunsets come as second nature to me. I’ve had countless memorable sunset runs, many of which I had my camera in tow.

I’ll start with the basics – shown here is the sunset from Sept. 20, 2015, taken from the lakeshore behind West Campus. Calm waters, still-warm temperatures, and a crystal clear sky made for a relaxing evening. When the lake’s very calm, the sun can take on an appearance that it is “melting.” Photo credit: Matthew Seymour

Dec. 6, 2015 – the Sunday of finals week during the fall 2015 semester. The temperature was unusually warm for the time of year, and the sky was fairly cloudy. All of a sudden, the clouds exploded into color like a fireball. Students came rushing down to the lake to capture the beauty of the pink post-sunset sky. Several of these type of sunsets occur each year, but this one was particularly notable for its intensity and duration of strong coloration. Photo credit: Matthew Seymour

March 16, 2016. The day before St. Patrick’s Day. A bright rainbow, or should I say THREE rainbows, appeared in the sky opposite the sun. It’s a sight I had never before seen. The third rainbow (the fainter one in the middle), known as a “reflection rainbow,” is formed when sunlight bounces off the (calm) lake water first, then refracts through the falling raindrops. [P.S. I assure you there was a sunset here, despite the actual sun not being in the photo.] Photo credit: Matthew Seymour

So, you’ve seen and heard about the sunset. You ask now, where on campus can I see this for myself?

Based on my experiences, anywhere where you can see the lake as far out as possible is a great sunset-watching spot. This includes, but is not limited to:

Anywhere along the lakeshore. Now, if you prefer flat stones (with a few large boulders sprinkled in) as your shoreline choice of rock, head to East Campus behind the lakeside dorms. Round cobblestones, head to West Campus. (Either way, it rocks!)

The 3rd and 4th floors of Shineman Center have great vantage points.

If you’re lucky enough to live in the upper floors of a high-rise dorm, these spots offer more-than-adequate views of the famous sunset.

Off-campus: Areas such as Breitbeck Park, Rudy’s, and the Oswego Bluffs are excellent choices.

Hello everyone, and Happy October! What has the wonderful weather of Oswego been up to lately, you ask?

Well, the month has come in with a literal bang, as campus experienced a rather noisy late-season thunderstorm on Oct. 2.

Photo credit: Matthew Seymour

Around 5:15pm on Oct. 2, this massive-looking cloud formation, known as a shelf cloud, appeared in the western sky. This cloud is commonly found at the leading edge of thunderstorms, and can signify incoming strong winds. Sure enough, about 5 minutes later, the wind became gusty and rain began to come down in buckets. So, if you see a shelf cloud, better run for cover!

Photo credit: Matthew Seymour

Today, Oct. 3, started out cloudy in the morning, with the sun shining by the time afternoon rolled around. But, something else was in the air – I almost mist it. (Ha ha) A thin layer of fog rolled in off the lake during the early afternoon. This fog likely formed due to a relatively humid air mass moving over the cooling lake waters. But more striking is the appearance of a faint white arc, known as a fogbow. Fogbows are formed in a similar process as rainbows, however in this case, the sun’s rays refract off of fog droplets instead of raindrops.

Photo credit: Matthew Seymour

Additionally, the sunsets continue to impress. Shown is the sunset from Sept. 29, as I viewed from the second floor of Shineman Center.

Be on the lookout for my next post, which will tell you about some of my sunset experiences, and where to go to get the best views and best photographs alike. Until next time, folks!!

Hi!!! I am Ye Jin Lee from Cheong ju, Korea. I am majoring in Public Relations.

I am a new transfer student in Oswego also i am a new student blogger!!! When i first came in Oswego, i fell in love with the lake and also Lakers. Oswego is a place which i really want to recommend not only American but also Korean. I realized there are many Korean students and also there are many American students who are interested in Korea. If you have any questions about my country or my posts, you are more than welcome to email me:)

Sep,25th!

I went to the Rice Creek with Taegundo club members. I didn’t know there is a hill near campus but thanks to my friends i got a chance to walk the hill.

It was a nice weather(it was not cold at all ) to walk under the sun. i follow the Orange line first and then continued with the Green line. I want to explain how to go there in detail. But unfortunately, I am a person who is bad at remembering the way to go somewhere. I just followed my friends and came back. I saw the sign which says Rice creek at the main entrance of campus.(hopefully, i can be a hint)

Can you see the sky in my pictures? It was a perfect blue sky. That is why we jumped on the grass like we are flying.

I took 3 hours total by walk. It is a nice way to work out and get some fresh air. Come out from your dorm and be healthy!! It is secret buti folded up for 1 hour after i arrived my dorm. I highly recommend to everyone to go there and enjoy the sun before winter come!!

Autumn!!! Or fall. Or pumpkin spice everything season. Whatever you prefer to call the three months between Sept. 22 and Dec. 21.

Here in Oswego, that means a few things. Swimming season at the lake is coming to an end. Temperatures begin to drop, and windy days become more numerous by the week. The green trees will soon become adorn in red and orange fall colors. And before you know it, well I won’t mention the dreaded s-word just yet…

So far this season, we haven’t really experienced true “autumn” weather in Oswego. A warm pattern, a continuation of the hot and dry summer Upstate NY experienced this year, carried over into September. Here in Oswego, the daily high temperature reached above 70ºF everyday this month through Sept. 23, even on a few occasions eclipsing 80º. Doesn’t sound like autumnal weather to me!

Meanwhile, the low temperature has dropped below 55º only four times so far this month, and did not reach the 40s until the morning of Sept. 25.

Keep in mind that, on average, high temps drop from the mid 70s on Sept. 1, to the mid 60s on Sept. 30. Lows normally go from the upper 50s on Sept. 1, to the upper 40s by month’s end.

Just this past Friday, a strong cold front finally pushed through the region, putting an end to Oswego’s extended summer weather. Temps the past couple days have been right around where they usually are, if not a little below normal. What a relief!!

A large wave crashes into the lakeshore the evening of Sept. 23, during strong northerly winds that followed the passage of a cold front in the morning. [Photo credit: Matthew Seymour]

The autumn-like weather looks to stick around this time, with cool temps continuing for the next several days. Have a great week!!

Our most recent #LakerTakeover on Instagram featured Spencer Ventresca showcasing the theatre department’s 24-Hour Play Festival, which saw writers, cast and crew hastily create, assemble and stage a new production.

On my decision to come to SUNY Oswego for an exchange semester, I knew that things would be different, but I assumed that more or less Australian and American university life and culture would be very similar. I was wrong. I have outlined the main differences below. Enjoy.

College is love

1. College is love, college is life. Literally. Since beginning college my days typically consist of eating all my meals with friends, going to class, going to the gym with friends, doing homework with friends, watching Netflix with friends, and sleeping. This is vastly different to my university days at QUT as everyday would always be completely different. In Brisbane some days I would go to work, others I would have class, and others I would do absolutely nothing but hang out with friends. I like the structured format of college in the states because I am forced to be more dedicated to my studies and I actually feel like I have time for things (such as working out) because everything is on campus.

2. Homework and pass grades. At QUT in my course, to pass a subject you simply need to get 50% or higher, which is simple and makes sense to me… Here it varies on the subject. For instance one of my subjects is 60% and another is 70%. However it is easier to get marks here (from my recent experience anyway) as professors tend to give out marks for attendance and small homework tasks. Which brings me to my next point; homework. Per subject at QUT I would have two exams during a semester and 1-3 large assignments, and class work/homework is completely optional. Whereas at SUNY Oswego I actually have to keep up to date on course work by submitting graded homework tasks weekly. I like the feelings of always being on top of my course work here, and it gives me reassurance that I will pass and do well, but I do miss weeks of procrastination and doing things last minute as I work well under pressure.

3.Structure of classes. At QUT all of my weekly classes are made up of two parts: one being a lecture which takes place in a hall and is run by a professor, and the other is a practical session in a classroom environment which may be run by a professor or a researcher. At SUNY Oswego all my subjects are in a classroom environment. I feel as though I am back in high school at times. I prefer my university’s style of teaching because a lecture might be one day, and the practical session the next, so it gives me time to digest the information. However I feel as though I have the potential to develop closer, more meaningful relationships with professors here as the contact is more personal and regular.

Snow storm

4. Classes are cancelled if there is a snow storm. This is vastly different to what I am used to. It doesn’t snow in Brisbane, but when we do have extreme weather, scheduled activities are rarely postponed (the exception being sporting events). I was surprised that classes were cancelled when there was a blizzard because most students live on campus and have the warm clothes needed to withstand these conditions anyway.

5. Not everything will kill you in the states. I was bitten by a spider two nights ago and I did not die; I initially thought it was a mosquito bite as it was itchy, small and hard, but turned out it was a spider bite. If this had happened in Australia I probably would have gone straight to the ER. I am enjoying the fact that I do not need to fear for my life when I encounter bugs and reptiles here.

6. American’s have awesome accents. I am always interested in what my peers and professors have to say because I cannot get enough of the accent.

7. American’s have a different definition of thong. I was telling some new friends about my regular encounters with spiders and how I kill them with my thongs (flip flops), and they thought this was hilarious because they were imagining me killing them with a g-string. Lol.

College food

8. Dining halls. At QUT we do not have any dining halls, rather we have food courts, cafes and bars, where items must be purchased in $AUD. When I arrived at Oswego the whole dining hall and dining dollars thing was so foreign, amazing & like something from an American movie. I love that there are so many dining halls on campus and their hours are long and flexible. I wish we had this culture at QUT.

For years I had always heard Walmart referenced in movies and pop culture and I was always so intrigued as we have nothing quite like it in Australia. The college is really well serviced with public transport so getting to Walmart was not an issue. My friends also had never been to Walmart before so we decided to make a day of it.

As expected it was huge. I had built it up so big in my mind, however it really wasn’t as incredible and exciting as I had expected. It was underwhelming to be completely honest. It was just like several stores in Australia combined (Woolworths and Big W). I was really impressed by how inexpensive everything was, especially makeup. I was able to pick up lipsticks which are usually around $17 in Australia, for $6 at Walmart. I also loved how friendly and willing to help all the folks there were and the great range of cheap, American candy.